Los Angeles was the epicenter of K-pop’s next evolution this week as Galaxy Corporation hosted its first-ever auditions for a virtual K-pop group at the El Rey Theatre.

From aespa’s “ae” avatars to motion-captured virtual group PLAVE to the current chart-topping success of HUNTR/X and Saja Boys of KPop Demon Hunters, virtual idols and the mix of technology and music is nothing new, but Galaxy Corporation’s auditions on Monday (Sept. 8) seemed to fall at the perfect time. The company describes itself as “enter tech” — converging IP, media and technology — and they’re betting big on a future where human performers power a virtual group that can perform and interact with fans in real time, marking another step forward in the music industry’s ongoing experimentation with digital idols. They currently have a small-but-quickly-growing roster of clients, from G-Dragon, Song Kang-ho (Parasite) and Kim Jong-kook, and also produced the Netflix breakout reality competition Physical: 100, which has gone on to have several spin-offs.

While most K-pop auditions have strict age ranges, a specified gender or other barriers to entry, Galaxy Corporation’s audition was searching for anyone with talent, regardless of genre, nationality or age. With this global search, they are “looking for creativity, emotional honesty, and the ability to connect with an audience” rather than visuals, as the group’s members will have digital avatars via motion capture, GK (Gyuhyuk Song), head of IP Music at Galaxy Corporation and senior lead for this project, tells Billboard. Some aspects of this project are based on the traditional idol group model: “Traditional idol training will remain at the core, but we’re also integrating new elements like digital performance and fan interaction in virtual spaces, to prepare artists who can move seamlessly between physical and virtual worlds.” And as intended, candidates who came in person were aged between early teens to adults. One father flew in with his auditioning daughter from the East Coast with dreams of participating in this project.

“Can an artist truly exist forever?” is a question that stuck with GK during his 12 years at SM Entertainment before joining Galaxy Corporation, noting that “groups struggle to surpass the seven-year standard contract period.” Of course, there are many exceptions these days with the global scale of K-pop and the way fans are more connected to their favorite artists than ever, but with this new project, the goal is to create “eternal artists.”

The concept of virtual artists isn’t entirely new — Gorillaz were an early pioneer the idea in the early 2000s — but what sets these newer groups apart is how their avatars are presented as fully realized individuals, with the real identities behind the characters often kept deliberately hidden.

Galaxy Corporation reinforced this approach for their auditions as well. Inside the El Rey, Galaxy Corporation prepared a holding area upstairs in the theater’s balcony and escorted candidates to the main stage while covered by large umbrellas to maintain anonymity throughout the process, aside from first name and age. A large screen was set up on the stage for the judging panel — which included GK, along with two other Galaxy Corporation representatives. Behind the screen, candidates had a mark on the floor for positioning and had a separate screen to see their motion-captured selves as one of two pre-designed avatars.

There’s an existing culture of virtual artists, and with technology and AI advancing at a rapid rate, Galaxy Corporation emphasizes the importance of authenticity when it comes to building fandom. Fandom is already the core driver of so many artists’ success, and ways to integrate the fans into this new project is also top of mind.

“We believe fandom will become even more interactive and participatory,” GK says. “Fans will not only support, but also shape creative direction through AI-driven platforms. This could lead to a new culture where the line between creator and fan blurs, fostering communities that feel deeply personal and globally connected.”

Additional audition rounds are expected to be held in other cities later this year, with Galaxy targeting a debut that positions the group as a truly global act.

As her wedding date with Benny Blanco nears, Selena Gomez mentioned her future children in an appearance on Amy Poehler’s podcast.

Chatting on this week’s episode of Good Hang With Amy Poehler, Gomez named the movie she plans to make her kids watch someday.

Gomez congratulated the comedian on her work portraying Joy in Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out and Inside Out 2, sharing that the animated movie franchise’s sequel — which introduces Anxiety (the character and emotion) into 13-year-old protagonist Riley’s life — had her in tears. In fact, the singer/actress/businesswoman thinks Inside Out 2 should be required viewing for all kids — including her own.

“I watched it with my sister and I completely sobbed because it’s so factual … I almost feel like it should have been a requirement in school to watch that as a homework assignment,” Gomez said on the podcast’s Sept. 9 episode. She added that Gracie, her 12-year-old sister, also cried. (Watch the full episode below.)

“There’s that kind of heartbreak that happens when Anxiety moves in,” Poehler agreed. “No matter the age, you’re either feeling it in real time as a young person, [or] you’re remembering that feeling as a person in your 30s or 40s or 50s and above when your paint set got some darker colors in it. It’s part of growing up, but it’s brutal.”

“It is. I’m gonna make my children watch it,” said Gomez, who’s not a parent now, but is getting ready for her upcoming nuptials to Blanco, clarified that thought: “Not yet.”

“I know, I know they don’t exist yet, but I can’t wait,” Poehler replied amid squeals of wanting to see Selena with a baby.

“They don’t,” said Gomez.

Her future children popped up again in conversation. The I Said I Love You First singer, who also stars in Only Murders in the Building and runs cosmetics company Rare Beauty, says she has a hard time telling people “no,” but that might change “when I have kids.”

“I feel like I owe a lot of people in the world any sort of smile, hug, picture, so it’s very hard,” Gomez explained. “When I don’t do it, I promise you it’s because I’m either really having a hard time dealing with my anxiety, or I’m late, which I try not to be. But in general, it’s a lot — ‘cause I love doing it. I think about it too much. I’ll think about if I missed that one person. It can get crazy in my head.”

“I feel protective of you,” Poehler told her. “As a women that is older … I think that any woman in her 30s is doing that thing where they’re trying to figure out, basically, what is expensive for me with energy? You start protecting it.”

Gomez responded, “I think that’ll happen moreso if I, when I, have kids. I’ll probably put more boundaries up for the sake of the sanity of, you know, what that will look like.”

Before the interview, Poehler talked to Only Murders co-star Martin Short about Gomez, who raved about working with her and described what it’s like when the horde of paparazzi turns up while the pop star’s filming scenes on the streets of New York City.

“When Selena joins us, there’s about 120 paparazzi and they’re there all day,” Short told Poehler. “I’m sure they’re just waiting for her to fall or stumble or [be] mean — therefore they could make more money from it. That’s been her life. She does have security on the streets — we all do — but she’s so lovely with them and they’ve been in her life so long. The only time I ever saw her get a little stern is when they were a little abrupt to like this 14-year-old fan of hers, and she goes, ‘Never do that.’ You can’t fault her.”

Meanwhile Gomez recounted one particular on-set incident caught on camera while filming season two: “Someone said a vile word to someone else, and it was a photographer … I just looked at him and I gave him the finger. There’s just one shot of me [giving the finger]. And he missed it. He’s not even the one who got it. The other people started laughing, and I was like, I don’t even care. I’m just so … I can’t tolerate this kind of stuff. But then they want that kind of reaction, so I’m like, damnit.”

Poehler shrugged it off: “One finger in 33 years?”

“There’s probably been a couple more,” Gomez admitted.

“We can probably find them,” Poehler quipped.

Brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher returned to Mexico after 17 years on Friday (Sept. 12), and the long wait to see Oasis live again was worth every moment — with the differences that led to their 2009 breakup being replaced by a celebration of pure, unfiltered rock and roll.

The British band’s inaugural stop in Latin America on their highly successful Oasis Live ’25 reunion tour — which launched in Cardiff, Wales, on July 4 — drew a crowd of 65,000 fans at Mexico City’s Estadio GNP Seguros, according to promoter OCESA. It was the first of two sold-out nights at the iconic venue, which witnessed a majestic two-hour performance featuring songs that have become generational anthems globally.

“¡Viva México!”, shouted frontman Liam Gallagher visibly moved, as he walked onto the stage hand in hand with his brother Noel. “It’s good to be back!”

The massive screens displayed the message “This is happening,” followed by “Mexico City,” setting the tone for an unforgettable night. Later, Liam delivered another compliment that the crowd celebrated enthusiastically: “You’re fuchsia, beautiful, heavenly and majestic.”

The setlist performed in the Latin American country stayed true to what the band has been playing in previous shows, opening with “Hello” and including tracks like “Acquiesce,” “Morning Glory,” “Some Might Say,” “Cigarettes & Alcohol,” “Supersonic,” “Stand by Me” and “Live Forever.” And closing with the powerful “Wonderwall” and “Champagne Supernova.”

As has been the tradition during their reunion tour, Oasis was joined on stage by a cardboard cutout of Spanish soccer manager Pep Guardiola, who leads Manchester City. But here, they gave it a Mexican touch by placing a traditional charro sombrero on it.

One of the most emotional moments came during the performance of “Acquiesce,” when Noel sang the song’s chorus with heartfelt conviction: “Because we need each other, we believe in one another,” creating a feeling of hope among fans.

On the eve of the show, Oasis announced their arrival by lighting up Mexico City’s sky with a drone display that formed the band’s name. The spectacle flew over the majestic Bosque de Chapultepec, surprising locals and quickly going viral on social media.

For this leg of their tour, the Gallagher brothers were joined by guitarist Paul “Bonehead” Arthur, guitarist Gem Archer, bassist Andy Bell, and drummer Joey Waronker. The opening act for the night was the American rock band Cage the Elephant.

On Saturday (Sept. 13), Oasis is set to perform a second night in Mexico City before heading back to London for two shows at Wembley Stadium, on Sept. 27 and 28. The Latin American leg of the tour will resume on Nov. 15 in Argentina, continuing through Chile and concluding in Brazil on Nov. 22-23.